Native Americans: The history of the land now known as Stasney's Cook Ranch appropriately begins with the native americans that roamed these parts of Texas for many years. During the pre-horse era, the Tonkawa tribe was the predominant tribe in North Central Texas. Then the Comanche, with the tactical advantage of the horse, reigned supreme over all lands and inhabitants of the southern plains for many years.

European Settlers: Spanish conquistadors were the first Europeans in Texas and by 1632 the Franciscan Monks had established the San Clemente mission about a 150 miles southwest of Albany, Tx. In the mid to late 1800's, the United States government maintained a series of forts to protect European settlers, buffalo hunters and cattlemen. Fort Griffin and the associated town called "Griffin Flat" was built in Shackelford County on the Clear Fork of the Brazos river. Griffin Flat became well known for its brothels, bars and the escapades of folks like Wyatt Erp, Doc Holiday and Lotty Deano.

Nail/Cook: In 1897, Jim Nail and his sister, Matilda "Dude" Nail, bought the lands including the ranch to raise cattle. Later, Matilda and her husband W.I. Cook bought what became known as the Cook Ranch from the original partnership with Jim. Jim's description of the ranch as, "the sorriest piece of land in the county," was probably true until 1926 when Roeser & Pendleton discovered oil on the ranch at a depth of 1200 feet. The first well flowed 1000 barrels of oil per day. Mrs. Cook used her oil income to fund and build the W.I. Cook Memorial Hospital in Ft. Worth, Tx.

Stasney: In 1989, Mrs. Eska Gage Stasney with H.R. Stasney & Sons bought the ranch from the Cook trust. The ranch is now known as "Stasney's Cook Ranch." In addition to cattle and oil production the ranch supports abundant wildlife including deer, hog, turkey, dove and quail. In 2007, the western portion of the ranch was leased to Renewable Energy Systems to generate electricity from constant and reliable West Texas winds!